Martineau, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles open series with Voltigeurs in Drummondville on Friday

The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will have to keep Drummondville centreman Joe Veleno, expected to be taken in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft in June, off the scoreboard if they hope to win their QMJHL playoff series that opens in Drummondville on Friday. - Submitted

SYDNEY, N.S. — The 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs will be the last for Phélix Martineau, a fact that’s not lost on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles captain.

“Me knowing that going into these playoffs it’s my last one, I’m going to give it everything I have and make it last as long as I can,” said the 20-year-old from Laval, Que., the team’s leading scorer.

The Screaming Eagles are the No. 12-ranked team heading into the post-season. They face the No. 5 Drummondville Voltigeurs starting with Game 1 of the best-of-seven series Friday on the road.

Simply put, Martineau has led by example in his four seasons with the Screaming Eagles. That’s been even more apparent in 2017-18, as the jack-of-all trades has done it all: led the team in goals (34), assists (32), points (66), power play goals (12), power play points (24) and game-winning goals (9).

He also has no problem getting into harm’s way, regularly blocking shots.

“My whole career, even if you go back to novice, I was always cut because of my size or any other reason,” said the 5-11 forward, a fifth-round draft pick by Cape Breton in 2014. “I’ve battled through all of this and to be on a major-junior team as a 20, it’s almost a dream come true and hopefully, it won’t stop here.”

Screaming Eagles head coach Marc-André Dumont said the young players on his team look up to Martineau.

“They’ll look up to him every moment of the week and every moment of the playoffs to know what to think, what to do and how to react positively and negatively to certain situations,” he said. “That’s what a leader is. He’s earned his respect and players trust him, and because of that trust, they look up to him. They know he can show the way and show the direction to take. He’s done it this year, so that won’t be new for him in the playoffs.”

The Screaming Eagles face an offensively-gifted Voltigeurs club in the opening round. They’re led by the likes 18-year-old forward Joe Veleno, who was acquired from the Saint John Sea Dogs during the holiday trade period, and 19-year-old blue-liner Nicolas Beaudin.

“It’s going to be a tight battle out there,” said Dumont. “They finished first in the league in goals for, so we know they have a lot of depth offensively and they can get offence from various guys. We know our defensive game is going to be a key thing for us to take care of.”

Following Game 1 on Friday and Game 2 on Saturday in Drummondville, the series shifts to Sydney for Game 3 on March 26 and Game 4 on March 28.